Page 94 of When Kings Fall

He swam into me and guided me back against the edge of the pool.

He linked his hands around my neck, then leaned in and licked up the droplets of water all over my cheek and throat, down to my pecs.

I groaned and threw my head back at the glorious dual sensations of his hot, wet tongue and his stud teasing my skin.

“Catching your breath now, darlin’?” he teased.

“The exact opposite,” I rasped. “No complaints here, though.”

“Is that so? Even though this pool is in a common, public area of the house? Even though the staff could see us and one actually just walked by the patio doors and looked out here?”

I smiled out at him. “Even then, gorgeous.”

“Wow, I’m loving this,” he said, stopping his teasing in his other kind of excitement and regarding me in awe. “You’re getting so uninhibited, so much more comfortable in yourself.”

“I know. Amazing, huh?”

“It really is, brother.”

Movement in my peripheral vision caught my eye and I turned my head to see Brianna strolling out with her favored Strawberry Chocolate Martini in hand, clad in her pink string bikini with a sarong slung low on her sexy little hips.

Colt followed my line of sight. “Lose the sarong and get in here with us, Bree!” he called over.

She came to us and sat down on the edge, dipping her legs into the water. She was really gleeful as she took us in. “I have amazing news!”

We both waded over to her.

Colt tickled her feet in the water and made her giggle. “What’s that, cutie?”

I stroked her thigh, trying to make it soothing rather than erotic, so she could focus on this news she had to tell us that had her so excited.

She was clearly feeling better. The last couple of days ever since her and Lev had returned from that quick takedown of that slimy fuckboy, Tommy, she’d been down and withdrawn.

Lev had told us exactly what had happened and it was no wonder.

Despite the need to what had happened and the down and dirty world she’d grown up in, Brianna Walker had a gentle heart, a kind soul. It sometimes slammed up against what needed to be done and the dark that loomed over her and us all, and there was conflict in that, and upset for her. But she’d obviously begun to process it now. Soon she’d hopefully be talking about it with us and we could help her the rest of the way through it.

When Roman had first given Colt and I the news that Lev and her had headed down to do that without us, I hadn’t exactly been pleased. But then he’d explained why they’d made that call.

I’d seen beneath the surface with it too.

Lev hadn’t wanted Colt to be there to witness a murder like that.

He didn’t do well with that sort of thing. He was the gentlest and most innocent of us all—in that respect, at least.

When this strike happened, I’d be running interference to ensure he was shielded from the worst of it. I didn’t really want him going at all, but he’d insisted, wanting to support Lev and Bree with it just like I did. I couldn’t deny him that.

But at least he hadn’t been there on that strip club mission. And I’d needed to stay behind to ensure he hadn’t freaked out and tried to haul ass down there to help.

Fortunately, it had all worked out well and exactly to plan all around.

“After talking to my dad, I took a video call from Sandy, a member of Vixen.” She looked at me. “The master thief on the Peter Hall mission.”

I tensed. “And?”

“And she got the tape. She destroyed it right in front of me, as per my request and I saw for myself via the video call that it was the only copy. It’s been confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

Colt grinned from ear-to-ear. “It’s really happened? Hall’s leverage over Mason has gone? For real?”

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